Train-control apparatus.



H. G. ,SEDGWICK.

TRAIN CONTROL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION man APR.29. 1913.

1, 1 89,745. Patented July 4, 1916.

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HIRAM G. SEDGWICK, F MILL VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL.

SAFETY APPLIANCE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

TRAIN-CONTROL APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4, 1916.

Original application filed October 24, 1908, Serial No. 459,358. Divided and this application filed April 29, 1913. Serial No. 764,407.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAM G. SEDGWICK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Mill Valley, county of Marin, and

State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Train-Control Apparatus, of which the following is a full and clear specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in

which Figure l is a diagrammatic view showing my improved arrangement of electrical circuits; and Figs. 2, 8, l, 5 and 6 are cross sections showing several ways of juxtaposing the protected and protective conductors.

This invention has reference to that class of train control apparatus embodying a normally closed circuit and a normally open circuit on the locomotive, and the object of this invention is to so arrange the normally closed conductors with respect to the normally dead conductors as to protect the dead conductors and thus render it practically impossible to disrupt the dead conductors withv out at the same time disrupting the live circuit, whereby any derangement of the circuits will cause the operation of the brake applying valve or other train control devices arranged to operate when the normally closed circuit is open or disrupted, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

This application is a division of my copending application serially numbered 459,358, filed October 24:, 1908.

In the drawing the letter A designates as a whole the train control device, which may be the usual brake setting valve a connected to the train pipe 0, of the usual air brake system. This valve or other train control device is adapted to operate when the current through the usual electromagnet (1 ceases to How, this magnet being included as usual in a normally closed circuit u, in which circuit is included also a battery 4).

Two branches ref w of a shunt circuit are connected to the normally closed circuit a at suitable points, the other ends of these wires to being connected to suitable means whereby suitable road bed devices will complete the circuit w when the locomotive passes over a danger point on the road bed. In the present instance I have connected one of these wires to one of the axles of the locomotive and the other wire to a current collecting brush a; which is adapted to oooperate with a suitable contact rail or other member on the road bed but it will be understood that it is not material so far as the present invention is concerned how the shunt circuit to is closed through a road bed device.

It will be observed that when the circuit to is closed the current from the battery o is shunted around the magnet, thus denergizing the magnet and releasing its armature and thus causing the operation of the train control device. To protect those portions of the normally dead circuit conductors to which extend from the train control device to the current collecting means at the lower ends of the two branches to, I form loops in the conductor 10 and arrange the wires of each loop in a manner to mechanically protect the conductor to. This protective arrangement may be accomplished in several different ways, in Fig. 2 the several conductors are shown as flatbands each with its proper insulating covering and with the normally dead conductor 20 inclosed between the two brackets of the looped conductors it. In Fig. 3 these band-like conductors are inclosed in a single cable, being preferably embedded in the material of which the cable is formed. In Fig. 4: the three conductors u and w are shown as round in cross section and likewise embedded in the cable body. The conductors in the cable shown in Fig.

4 may be twisted together as shown in Fig.

5, and in Figs. 5 and 6 the insulated wires u and w are shown simply as being twisted tightly together. In all these forms it will be observed that the normally-alive conductors are arranged close to and are on opposite sides of the normally dead conductor so that any rupture of the normally dead conductor will be almost certain to cause an injury to the normally closed circuit and thus cause an actuation of a train control device.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a train control apparatus, the combination of a normally closed circuit including a battery and a magnet, a train control device adapted to operate when said magnet is de- ICE. I

energized, a normally dead shunt circuit con- In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my nected to said normally closed circuit and signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ada ted to be closed b road bed devices 7 V the onductors of'the noi mally closed circuit HIBANI SEDGWIOK' being looped and arranged closeito and on Witnesses: I opposite sides of the normally dead conduc- 1 1. VC. ANKERs,

tors so as to mechanically protect the same. 7 L. B. MCGONAHA.

" 7 Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each; by addressing the Commissioner 0! Patents,

Washington, 30- 0-": 

